Bio
Mak Manaka is a South African poet and actor best known for his role as Mak in the third season of the SABC1 youth drama series Soul Buddyz (2005) and for his starring role as Freddy September in the first season of the SABC2 drama series 90 Plein Street, in 2007.
Manaka hails from Soweto. He published an anthology of poems titled If Only and has shared the stage with local and international poets over a number of years, including Dr Don Mattera, Keorapetse Kgosietsile, Saul Williams, Ursula Rucker, Lesego Rampolokeng, Roger Bon-Air Agard, Lebo Mashile and Ntsiki Mazwai to mention a few.
Moving around on crutches, Mak's paralysis is the result of an accident, but the art created by this self-motivated warrior inspires the nation.
He performed at the president's inauguration and by the age of 21 had represented South African poets in Cuba, Spain and Jamaica.
He has performed for the former president, Mr Nelson Mandela and was also nominated for the DaimlerChrysler Poet of the Year 2005 Award.